Publications

Abstract A common hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is kidney fibrosis, which manifests as an increased deposition and turnover of collagens in the kidneys. Current clinical methods of monitoring disease progression in CKD patients do not truly reflect alterations at the tissue level without the use of invasive biopsies. Naturally occurring urinary peptides associated […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized as an inflammatory neurodegenerative disease in the central nervous system (CNS), presenting with significant inter- and intra individual heterogeneity. The pathological hallmarks of active MS lesions are blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption, inflammation, and demyelination with axonal damage. Blood-based biomarkers reflecting tissue changes in immunology and/or neurobiology may […]

Abstract Collagen type I (COL1) is the most abundant protein in the human body and is a main component in the extracellular matrix. The COL1 structure vastly influences normal tissue homeostasis, and changes in the matrix drive progression in multiple diseases. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in many Western […]

Abstract Inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, is characterized by physical function impairment. This becomes apparent even before arthritis onset, as in psoriasis (PsO). Chronic inflammation triggers an accelerated remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), resulting in released ECM fragments detectable in blood. We aimed to investigate levels of blood-based ECM biomarkers in […]

Abstract Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition. One of the unmet medical needs in PD, are tools for better diagnosis, prognosis, and efficacy of treatment, which reflects the disease course of the individual patient. Alpha-Synuclein (α-Synuclein) is a hallmark of synucleinopathies such as PD, where α-Synuclein aggregates are deposited. Calpain-1 is an enzyme, […]

Abstract Remodelling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a continuous process necessary for maintaining skin tissue architecture and function. Disruption of type VII and XVII collagen turnover within the ECM is a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis (AD). To investigate the turnover of type VII and XVII collagens […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disease characterized by microvasculopathy, autoantibody production, and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Disrupted collagen turnover in SSc leads to excessive collagen accumulation, but the remodeling of type VII collagen, a key component of the skin’s basement membrane, is not well understood. This study investigates […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized by recurrent inflammation and challenging disease monitoring, with invasive endoscopy as the primary diagnostic tool despite the inadequacy of standard noninvasive biomarkers. This study evaluates serum extracellular matrix (ECM) fragments, which reflect the remodeling of mucosa and submucosa, as potential indicators of disease burden and treatment efficacy. We […]

Abstract OBJECTIVES Current knowledge on the fibro-inflammatory process underlying chronic pancreatitis originates from animal studies or human studies based on circulating biomarkers. To provide new insight into the underlying fibro-inflammatory processes, we simultaneously assessed fibrosis biomarkers in pancreatic fluid collections and the systemic circulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective observational cross-sectional study included patients with […]

Abstract BACKGROUND Severe and critical COVID-19 is characterized by pulmonary viral infection with SARS-CoV-2 resulting in local and systemic inflammation. Dexamethasone (DEX) has been shown to improve outcomes in critically ill patients; however, its effect on tissue remodeling, particularly collagen turnover, remains unclear. This study investigated the association between circulating extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling neo-epitopes […]